Monday, May 29, 2017

Merkel Says It's Over

German Chancellor Angela Merkel underlined her doubts about the reliability of the United States as an ally on Monday ...

"Recent days have shown me that the times when we could rely completely on others are over to a certain extent," Merkel said.

While she made clear Berlin and Washington would "of course" remain close partners, Merkel stuck to her language from Sunday.

"We also know that we Europeans must really take our fate into our own hands," she added, underlining Europe's frustration with Trump on climate policy in particular.

The American tycoon-turned-president backed a pledge to fight protectionism at the end of a summit of the G7 group of wealthy nations on Saturday. But he refused to endorse the climate pact, saying he needed more time to decide.

Merkel added that ties with the United States were of "paramount importance", but she otherwise stuck to the thrust of her Sunday message, when she spoke in a packed Munich beer tent.

"It became clear at the G7, when there was no agreement with the USA, how long and rocky this path would be," Merkel said at a conference on sustainable development. "I think it was good not to gloss over the differences."

Merkel indirectly warned Trump he risked isolating the United States: "Anyone who today puts on national blinkers and no longer has eyes for the world around him is, I am convinced, ultimately out on a limb."

Her spokesman, Steffen Seibert, told reporters Merkel felt it was right to flag differences in Germany's ties with the United States in order to maintain healthy relations.

"Because trans-Atlantic relations are so important to this chancellor, it is right from her viewpoint to speak out honestly about differences," he said, stressing that the trans-Atlantic ties "are a firm pillar of our foreign and security policy"

Merkal was trained from her childhood onward in East Germany to be a Globalist. Her views are not remotely surprising. Although the fact that she is now openly talking about them is.

NATO outlived it's usefulness twenty-five years ago. It's become a strain on America's collective wallet, while giving us nothing in return. Well not quite nothing, NATO has become a Tail That Wags the Dog and yes America is the Dog. We are getting dragged into fights that are not remotely in our national interest.

NATO has become a European Hyper-Car, too pricey to own, ridiculously expensive to maintain, and terrifyingly dangerous to drive.

And now the EU is now talking about creating a unified EU military...

Are we expected to pay for that too?!?!?!

I can't believe I'm saying this but I actually support Merkel's stance on something. The twilight of Trans-Atlanticism is at hand.